Abstract: A vibrating device that is in the form of a rectangular plate having opposed long sides and opposed short sides, and that utilizes an expanding and contracting vibration mode in a direction of the short sides. The vibrating device includes a Si layer made of a degenerate semiconductor, a silicon oxide layer, a piezoelectric layer, and first and second electrodes through which a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer. When a total thickness of the Si layer is denoted by T1, a total thickness of the silicon oxide layer is denoted by T2, and the TCF in the vibrating device when the silicon oxide layer 3 is not provided is denoted by x(ppm/K), T2/(T1+T2) is within a range of (?0.0003x2?0.0256x+0.0008)±0.05.

Abstract: A device able to generate electrical power through relative rotational motion of first (370, 380) and second (200, 230) principal components around an axis of rotation (220); wherein: the first and second principal components comprise an arrangement of piezoelectric elements (380) and permanent magnets (230, 370) such that the interaction between these magnets and piezoelectric elements, in use, makes it possible to generate electricity; and wherein: the second principal component (200, 230) comprises a center of mass offset from the axis of relative rotation (220) such that the response of the second principal component (200, 230) to either gravitational or inertial forces is a relative rotation of the second principal component (200, 230) in relation to the first principal component (370, 380); the first principal component (370, 380) being fixedly attached to the moving host structure (100).

Abstract: A linear vibration-wave motor being configured to apply a driving force to a lens barrel of an optical device includes a vibrator being operable to excite a vibration, a member to be contacted contacting the vibrator, the vibrator being arranged to move in a direction of the driving force with respect to the member to be contacted upon exciting the vibration, a vibrator support being fixed to the lens barrel and configured to support the vibrator, a pressurization member being operable to press the vibrator against the member to be contacted, a unit cover member including an opening extending in the direction of the driving force, and a unit base member having fixed thereto the member to be contacted and the unit cover member. The pressurization member is detachable from the vibrator support via the opening.

Abstract: A domestic appliance such as a refrigerator, washing machine, and dryer is disclosed. The appliance may include a piezoelectric device. The piezoelectric device may be configured to supply electrical power to various electrically-powered elements in the appliance, such as a light source, a drive status sensor, and active balancing components.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device is provided with a rectangular crystal piece having driving electrodes on front and back main faces thereof, and a base member having two electrode pads near one short side of the crystal piece. The crystal piece is supported on the base member by two support portions near one short side thereof, and by an auxiliary support portion on the other short side thereof. A position of the auxiliary support portion relative to the other short side, where L is a distance between two short sides, and H is a distance from the other short side to a peripheral edge of the auxiliary support portion nearest to the other short side, is set to a position at which the distance H stays in a range of distances in which a maximum tensile stress acting on the auxiliary support portion and a maximum von Mises stress of the crystal piece are within predetermined ranges.

Abstract: An microelectronic device includes a substrate, a piezoelectric component formed over the substrate, at least one trench formed in the substrate. The piezoelectric component has a corresponding resonance frequency. The at least one trench is configured to reduce mechanical stress on the piezoelectric component, in response to force applied to the substrate, for stabilizing the resonance frequency.

Abstract: A vibration-type driving device according to the present invention includes a plurality of vibrators in which contact portions perform an elliptical motion using a combination of vibrations in different vibration modes; and a driven object having contact regions that come into contact with the contact portions and move relative to the plurality of vibrators, wherein the contact regions for the individual vibrators differ in position so as not to overlap.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer device includes a base, a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a conductive body and an insulating film. The base has a plurality of vibrating film portions arranged in an array pattern. The piezoelectric elements are respectively disposed on the vibrating film portions. The conductive body is disposed on the base, and arranged inside and outside of an area corresponding to each of the vibrating film portions in a plan view as viewed along a thickness direction of the base. The insulating film is disposed on the conductive body only at outside of the area corresponding to each of the vibrating film portions in the plan view.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive alternator configured to convert pressure waves into electrical energy is provided. It should be appreciated that the magnetostrictive alternator may be combined in some embodiments with a Stirling engine to produce electrical power. The Stirling engine creates the oscillating pressure wave and the magnetostrictive alternator converts the pressure wave into electricity. In some embodiments, the magnetostrictive alternator may include aerogel material and magnetostrictive material. The aerogel material may be configured to convert a higher amplitude pressure wave into a lower amplitude pressure wave. The magnetostrictive material may be configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field when the magnetostrictive material is compressed by the lower amplitude pressure wave.

Abstract: A method for driving a piezoelectric element including a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer formed on the first electrode and containing a composite oxide of an ABO3 type perovskite structure, and a second electrode formed on the piezoelectric layer, and the method includes driving the piezoelectric element by applying a signal having a predetermined driving waveform by a predetermined number of times, and driving the piezoelectric element by applying a signal having the predetermined driving waveform in reverse polarity.

Abstract: Provided is a multi-flap standing wave type ultrasonic motor, including a rotor part, a stator part, a control circuit board, and a fixing attachment. The rotor part includes a flange, a rotor ring, and a shaft. The shaft and the flange are joined together by using a first screw and the flange and the rotor ring are joined together by using a second screw. The stator part includes a piezoelectric ceramics, an excitation ring, and flaps. The piezoelectric ceramics and the excitation ring are fixed with glue, the flaps and the excitation ring are connected through welding, and form an angle with the radial direction of the excitation ring. The stator part is sleeved on a support, is attached to a pressure plate and is connected, through an upright, to a locking plate, and to a substrate of the control circuit board to form a fixing attachment. The flaps are an elastomer and a preload provider. The inner diameter of the rotor ring is less than the outer diameter of the flaps.

Abstract: An acoustic resonator comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and comprising a C-axis having an orientation. A polarization-determining seed layer (PDSL) is disposed beneath the piezoelectric layer, the seed layer comprising a metal-nonmetal compound. A method of fabricating a piezoelectric layer over a substrate comprises forming a first layer of a polarization determining seed layer (PDSL) over the substrate. The method further comprises forming a second layer of the PDSL over the first layer. The method further comprises forming a first layer of a piezoelectric material over the second layer of the PDSL; and forming a second layer of the piezoelectric material over the first layer of the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material comprises a compression axis (C-axis) oriented along a first direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator array includes a substrate plate with a number of signal leads and at least one common lead, and a number of piezoelectric bodies arranged in a row on one surface of the substrate plate and formed by dividing a common piezoelectric block. The piezoelectric bodies include a number of active bodies each of which has, on a first side of the row, a signal electrode in contact with one of the signal leads and, on an opposite second side of the row, a common electrode in contact with the common lead. The substrate plate has at least one connector lead disposed on the first side of the row and electrically connected to the common lead on the second side of the row. At least one piezoelectric body has a conductive outer surface layer that establishes an electrically conductive path from the connector lead to the common lead.

Abstract: A resonator device comprising a piezoelectric material and at least one electrode, the device also provided with a material with a positive coefficient of stiffness, wherein the material is disposed in the device as an electrode or as a separate layer adjacent the piezoelectric material formed as one or more layers in the device. The material that performs the temperature compensating function is selected from the group consisting of ferromagnetic metal alloys, shape-memory metal alloys, and polymers, wherein the selected material has a temperature coefficient that varies with the relative amounts of the individual constituents of the compositions and wherein the composition is selected to provide the material with the positive coefficient of stiffness.

Abstract: A piezoelectric component in which leakage of vibration is suppressed and vibration characteristics are excellent is provided. A piezoelectric component of the invention includes a support substrate; and a piezoelectric element mounted on the support substrate. The piezoelectric element includes electrodes (vibration electrodes) on one main surface and the other main surface of the piezoelectric element so that the electrodes have an area facing each other, and a concave area extending in a width direction of the piezoelectric element, in at least one of excepted areas which are areas other than the electrodes facing each other of the one main surface and the other main surface. At least part of corner portions of the concave area which extend in the width direction forms a curved surface.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first conductive pattern and a second conductive pattern that are disposed on a main surface of an insulating substrate, a first electrode pattern that is electrically connected to the first conductive pattern, and a vibrator element that is disposed on the main surface, and the area of a first section in which the first conductive pattern overlaps the first electrode pattern is greater than the area in which the other conductive pattern overlaps the first electrode pattern in a plan view.

Abstract: There is provided a vibration generating device including: a housing having an internal space; a vibration member having one end fixedly attached to the housing; a piezoelectric element installed on the vibration member; and a mass body fixedly attached to the vibration member, wherein the vibration member includes an installation part on which the piezoelectric element is installed, and an extension part extended from at least one side surface of the installation part, and a maximum displacement portion of the vibration member is changed depending on a vibration mode.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element having an improved piezoelectric constant is provided, and a liquid discharge head, an ultrasonic motor, and a dust removing device, each of which uses the above piezoelectric element, are also provided. A piezoelectric element at least includes a pair of electrodes and a piezoelectric material provided in contact with the pair of electrodes, the piezoelectric material is formed of an aggregate of crystal grains containing barium titanate as a primary component, and among the crystal grains of the aggregate, crystal grains at least in contact with the electrodes have dislocation layers in the grains. A liquid discharge head, an ultrasonic motor, and a dust removing device each use the above piezoelectric element.

Abstract: An acoustic matching layer is formed on individual ultrasonic transducer elements on a base. Electric conductors are arranged between adjacent ultrasonic transducer elements, the electric conductors being connected to electrodes of the ultrasonic transducer elements. Protective films overlap the electric conductors. The protective films have smaller moisture permeability than the acoustic matching layer. Wall portions are arranged on the protective films, the wall portions separating portions of the acoustic matching layer that are respectively located on adjacent ultrasonic transducer elements from each other at least in a part of a height range with respect to a height direction from the base, and having an acoustic impedance that is different from the acoustic impedance of the acoustic matching layer.

Abstract: A vibrating body includes a substrate, a piezoelectric element comprising a piezoelectric layer and electrode layers and joined to the substrate, and a ceramic layer between the substrate and the piezoelectric element. The ceramic layer comprises a first region and a second region which is adjacent to the first region in a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction of the ceramic layer. The first region has a square shape, each side of the first region having a length equal to a thickness of the ceramic layer, the second region has a square shape, each side of the second region having the length equal to the thickness of the ceramic layer, and a difference between a porosity of the first region and a porosity of the second region is not greater than 15%.